Christian Leader Arrested in Turkmenbashi

On May 19, Yevgeny Potolov, head of a Council of Churches Baptist congregation in Turkmenbashi, was detained by police. The police have refused to tell his wife why he is being held in a detention center. They have said the case is being handled by the secret police. Potolov's arrest comes days after Pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky was sentenced to three years in a labor camp for his religious activities. Pray for the two Christian leaders and their families. Pray Christians in Turkmenistan will continue to boldly share the gospel. John 17:13-19

Pastor Jailed in Labor Camp for Three Years

On May 14, 2007, Baptist preacher Vyacheslav Kalataevsky was jailed for three years in a labor camp for illegally crossing the border in 2001, establishing a prayer house and organizing meetings for Christian Baptists. According to Forum 18 News, his family insists the sentence was imposed to punish him for his activity with the unregistered Baptist congregation in the city. Vyacheslav told the court today in his closing statement that officials have a hostile attitude to him because of his faith. "This is backed up by the fact that as soon as he was arrested in March, the questions were all about his religious activity, not about crossing the border," the family told Forum News. Pray for this pastor and his family. Pray his testimony will draw non-believers into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Psalm 10:17, 2 Corinthians 7:4